Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-23
A $4,000 FIRE.
Destruction OF Several Business Places in
Chinatown.

Destruction OF Several Business Places in
Chinatown.
About 40 A. NJ. yesterday there was
great blowing of whistles and babel of
outcries on l street. between Third and
Fourth. There were not many white peo-
pie astir at the time in the vicinity, and
most of those who heard the noises as
sumed that there had been fight at some
gaming-house among the Celestials. A
few minutes later bright light was seen,
which rapidly increased in size and brill
fancy. and the Waterman at the Me
chanics' Store and citizen who had lust
arrived by the Portland express gave an
alarm at the Hook and Ladder house,
which was followed soon afterwards by an
alarm from the Water Works. Meanwhile
an attempt had been made to turn in box
"a, at Third and streets. but it could not
be operated.
Officer Sullivan, who resides at Fourth
and I streets, was aroused by the blowing
of the whistles, and running out TO see
what the trouble was. discovered that the
Yu Chung grocery and drug store on the
south side of 1 street. about three doors
west of Fourth. was in blaze. The occu-
pants of the building were all on the street
ing to building, arousing the occupants
In few minutes the fire broke through the
roof of the burning building. The officer
is of the opinion that the fire started in this
building but those residing in it say that it
originated in the rear of the basement of
the place next on the west, the basement
being occupied as a restaurant, and the
main floor as store. The officer ran back
to his room, for additional clothing, and
afterwards had got as far as Third and |
on his way to turn in an alarm, when one
was sounded.
A number of small frame additions and
porches in the rear of the buildings caused
the fire to extend very quickly from one
structure to another, and soon three or
four. all brick buildings, were blazing.
Owing to the lateness of their receiving the
alarm, and the fact that the center of |
street was occupied by some freight cars.
and other obstacles presenting themselves,
the firemen could not get into service until
the conflagration was far advanced The
plug at Fourth and [ streets could not be
readily approached by an engine, because
of quantity of lumber and other material
near it, and in addition it was almost i'm
possible to open it,
The first stream upon the fire was led
through the hose which T. D. SERVER
keeps at his livery stable for such an
emergency, and its use kept the blaze from
getting into his establishment, though the
rear of ii suffered considerably by fire and
received a bad soaking. The stable was
full of carriages of all descriptions, and in
their hasty removal many were severely
damaged, while others had their paint
marred. He thinks he suffered a loss of
fully 81 900 in this manner.
After an hour of exceedingly hot work,
during which fireman Featherson was SO
overcome by the heat that he had to be
ceeded in getting the fire under control,
but it was late in the forenoon before hose
was taken up. The building which the
Iu Chung Co. occupied-a large two-story
structure, 40 feet front owned by widow
lady, Mrs. Kadel, of Oakland-was COM
pletely destroyed. 1t is not known
whether it was insured. The two-story
building adjoining it on the east, owned
by +. 2. Figg, had the same partition wall,
which broke Oft near the roof, allowing
the interior of the structure to be severely
damaged. The next building on the west
to that of Mrs. Kadel, was owned bv Geo.
h. Rider, and only its walls are standing
Next was one-story, owned by George
Smith, which is in the same condition as
Riders. Adjoining it was a double two
story building, owned by Mr.. Smith, which
was thoroughly cleaned inside and another
two-story building next to it, belonging to
the same owner, was considerably burned
in the rear. and damaged by smoke and
water. This latter building was occupied
as gambling house mainly. The others
| that were destroyed were stores, and in the
upper story of Mr. Smiths large building
there was somewhat pretentious Chinese
restaurant
Mr.. Eggs loss is covered by insurance.
Mr.. Rider was insured for 800, and esti-
Inmates his loss at 81, 500. Mr.. Smith has
an insurance of $500, which is 81 800 or
81, 1000 below his loss. The Kadal building
cost $4,000 to build, and its owner, if not
| insured, and there is some doubt about it.
| as she thought the rates excessive, will suffer
severely The Yu Chung Company state
| that their stock amounted to $13, 900. and
| they carried an insurance of So 900. Hing,
| interpreter at the depot, who was employed
| at the store of which his brother, George
| Hing, interpreter for the railroad company
at San Francisco, and quite prominent
man among the Chinese, is one of the pro-
prietors, left considerable sum of money
in drawer in the store Sunday night, and
is having the ruins watched to prevent its
being appropriated by any one who may
happen to come upon it. The other Chi
nese merchants had more or less insurance
upon their goods. Very little was saved
| from any of the buildings, and the total
loss will foot up about $35 900.
| s